Learning To Share

Introduction

The following children’s story is intended to be published
with illustrations. The book is designed to teach the planetary citizen values of
sharing, tolerance and restraint. It will be a hard cover book
12.70 cm(5 in)
square. I’m looking for a publisher.

The Story

There is a beautiful valley in Canada with three beaver dams.

[The valley]

On the top dam live Mr. Jerry and Mrs. Anita Beaver and their four kits,
Buckminster, Willa, Laura and Josh.

[Jerry looks vaguely like the Reverend Jerry Falwell, Anita like
Anita Bryant, Buckminster like Bucky Fuller. Willa has red hair and freckles like the
angelic nurse in the psych ward at Courtenay General. Laura looks like my niece Laura
Green. Josh is the youngest. He has two metal lower front practice teeth, like the four year old I met at a party on Quadra
Island.]

On the next dam downstream live Mr. Lorne and Mrs. Jean Oliver.

[They are an older couple who look, surprise, like Lorne and Jean
Oliver, now living in White Rock.]

On the next dam live Rex and Svend Maple.

[They are a pair of lumberjack teenage beavers.]

Mrs. Beaver taught her kits to share both their food and toys.

[Picture of children sharing.]

She also taught them that the Olivers were selfish because they lived
without children.

[Picture of Mrs. Beaver followed by children in single file, with
noses and tails held high in the air. Josh does not have his tail up. Mrs. Beaver is
looking over her shoulder with a disapproving look as if to say “Get that tail up
in the air, Josh”]

Mr. Beaver taught the kits that Rex and Svend were naughty because they
did not attend church.

[Picture of church with everyone in attendance, but Rex and Svend.
There are two empty seats on opposite diagonals. Pastor Owl is officiating.]

Pastor Owl said Could I talk with you a
minute.

[Pastor Owl is speaking to Mr. and Mrs. Beaver as everyone is
leaving. The Beavers look slightly worried and embarrassed, much the way children would
if similarly spoken to.]

He lead them into his study.

[He pulls on a green curtain, revealing a study lined with
books.]

He said, You have taught you children to share, yet
you have not been sharing your children with those who have none. Mr. and Mrs.
Beaver saw that Pastor Owl was right.

[Mr. and Mrs. Beaver are blushing.]

Now Josh goes camping with Rex and Svend.

[Picture of Josh roasting a weiner or marshmallow over a
campfire.]

Laura is learning to sew with the Olivers.

[Picture of Laura, Lorne and Jean all working on a giant
quilt.]

Willa goes horse riding with Rex and Svend.

[Picture of Willa perching high on a horse, the way a real beaver
would have to without legs dangling.]

Buckminster has a quiet place to study astronomy at the Olivers.

[Picture of Buckminster staring at the heavens through a telescope
with a pensive look on his face.]

Mr. and Mrs. Beaver go rowing on the lake together.

[Picture of Mrs. Beaver in a fluffy romantic dress sitting in the
bow of the boat. Mr. Beaver looks at her lovingly. Hearts in the air. Perhaps he sings to
her.]

When somebody shares, everybody benefits.

[The moral of the story is set in slightly larger, darker or
different type. The final picture is everyone crammed into the church. Rex and Svend are
sitting side by side in the front row.]

Credits

Rachel age 16 in 1998 decided on the book format. Josh age 4
came up with the idea of practice teeth. Emma Swan age 12 and Alex Swan age 9 gave early
encouragement. The sample illustrations were done by
Rosalinean art student of my friend Marty Bunch.

Sales

Emma Swan has ordered the first copy. I will be hand signing and numbering copies. The
more advance sales I have, the easier it will be to get the book published. However,
nothing has happened in many years so I don’t think this will ever see print.